A 64-year-old male (the victim) was killed while unloading logs
at a sawmill. Since retiring from the mining industry several
years ago, he had been working part-time driving a semi-trailer
truck owned by a logger. As was his usual practice, the victim
drove the truck alone, and on the day of the incident hauled a
large load of logs on the trailer bed. The logs were approximately
12 inches in diameter and 20-25 feet long. Stakes on the sides
of the trailer bed were four feet high; witnesses reported that
the logs were stacked approximately four feet higher than the
stakes. Drivers are not required to check in upon arrival, and
the sawmill has no guidelines in place for unloading procedures.
The victim arrived about 9:00 am and began the unloading procedure
before any employees of the mill came to assist. Each stack of
logs on the truck was bound by two chains having one-inch links,
which were rusted and in poor condition. The victim unhooked the
chain nearest the front of the truck. As he began releasing the
second chain, the load of logs shifted and the chain broke. Three
logs rolled off the truck and struck the victim. Although the
incident was unwitnessed, an employee of the mill who was working
in the yard at the time heard an unusual sound and looked over
to find the victim on the ground. Emergency medical services (EMS)
were called to the scene immediately and the victim was pronounced
dead at 9:45 am.

In order to prevent similar incidents from occurring, FACE investigators
recommend:

The height of the stack of logs should not exceed the height
of the standards on the truck

Routine safety inspections should be made to ensure that equipment
is in proper condition

Written policies should be in place regarding unloading procedures
for loggers at the mill, and the policies should be enforced by
mill owners

Loggers and log-truck drivers should attend the Master Logger
Program

Lawmakers should consider initiating regulations to limit
the height of log stacks on vehicles traveling on public roadways

INTRODUCTION

FACE investigators were informed of the death of a logger on 25
April 1996. An investigation was initiated and a site visit made
on 22 May 1996. Interviews were held with the owner of the sawmill
and the deputy coroner who was present at the scene. Photographs
of the scene were viewed and copies obtained of the death certificate
and coroner's report.

The owner of the sawmill had started the business in January 1995.
His brother owned the tractor-trailer truck that was involved
in the fatal incident. Both men have been involved in logging
most of their lives. Eight workers are employed at the sawmill.
The mill has no written guidelines for unloading procedures and
no safety program.

The victim had been a full-time miner and began driving the logging
truck when he retired from mining several years ago. He had no
prior experience in the logging industry. He was married and had
been in generally good health. The victim was killed on what was
to be his last day of work before full retirement.

INVESTIGATION

The day of the incident was warm and clear. The victim and the
logger who owned the semi-trailer truck began work early that
morning loading logs onto the truck. Two stacks of logs were hauled
on the trailer bed, each bound with two chains which were rusted
and in poor condition. Stakes on the sides of the truck were four
feet high and the logs were stacked approximately four feet higher
than the stakes.

As was usual practice, the victim drove the truck to the sawmill
alone; he arrived on the site about 9:00 am. The packed-dirt sawmill
yard was fairly level. Drivers are not required to check in upon
arriving at the mill, and he began the unloading procedure before
any employees came to assist him. He unhooked one chain holding
the stack of logs closest to the front of the truck. As he began
to unhook the second chain, the stack of logs shifted and a link
broke in the remaining chain. As a result, three logs rolled off
the truck. Two logs knocked him to the ground and a third rolled
over him. Although the incident was unwitnessed, an employee of
the mill was working in the yard at the time and heard an unusual
sound; he looked over and saw the victim lying on the ground beside
the truck. Immediately, 911 was called and EMS workers arrived
on the site within minutes. The coroner was summoned to the scene,
and the victim was pronounced dead at 9:45 am.

CAUSE OF DEATH

Cause of death was blunt crushing injuries.

RECOMMENDATIONS/DISCUSSION

Recommendation #1: The height of the stack of
logs should not exceed the height of the standards on the truck.
(APA Safety Alert 93-S-46)

Discussion: In this case, the height of the stack
of logs was approximately twice as high as the standards on the
trailer. Increasing the height of the standards or lowering the
height of the stack would reduce the risk of a log rolling off
the truck unexpectedly.

Recommendation #2: Routine safety inspections
should be made to ensure that equipment is in proper condition.

Discussion: Routinely checking the equipment
can alert workers to potential hazards and thus reduce the risk
of injury. Binders used to secure logs on the truck should be
well-maintained and replaced when signs of wear or age appear.
In this case, replacing the rusty chains could possibly have prevented
this fatal incident.

Recommendation #3: Written policies should be
in place regarding unloading procedures at the mill and the policies
should be enforced by mill owners.

Discussion: Written guidelines for unloading
procedures at the mill would help ensure that the logs are unloaded
properly, providing a safe work environment for loggers, drivers,
and the employees of the mill.

Discussion: Loggers should be aware of proper
procedures and safety practices to ensure a safe work environment.
For information about the Master Logger Program, contact Jeff
Stringer at the University of Kentucky Department of Forestry
(606/257-5994).

Recommendation #5: Lawmakers should consider
initiating regulations to limit the height of log stacks on vehicles
traveling on public roadways.

Discussion: Loggers operating as independent
contractors usually are not subject to Occupational Health and
Safety (OHS) regulations. In an effort to decrease the risk of
injury during unloading, log-stack height could be regulated by
transportation laws. Because transportation of logs to mills takes
place via public roadways, other travelers are at risk due to
shifting of the logs and potential failure of the binders. Enforcement
based in transportation laws rather than occupational safety regulations
may reduce the risk of fatalities occurring at sawmills and reduce
the hazard to others on the road.